Viaduct closed for demolition

October 22, 2011 4:59 PM

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

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Members of the Rat City Rollergirls flat-track roller derby league skate on the upper deck of the closed Alaskan Way Viaduct on Saturday, October 22, 2011 in downtown Seattle. They were winners of a contest where organizations made pitches about what they would do on the deck of the closed highway for half an hour. The highway usually carries 110,000 cars per day and will be closed for nine days as demolition of the southern half of the aging structure begins. The highway, built in the 1950s, will be replaced with a new deep bore tunnel along the Seattle waterfront. less

Members of the Rat City Rollergirls flat-track roller derby league skate on the upper deck of the closed Alaskan Way Viaduct on Saturday, October 22, 2011 in downtown Seattle. They were winners of a contest ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Members of the Rat City Rollergirls flat-track roller derby league... Photo-1691249.31629 - seattlepi.com

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Members of the Seattle Cossacks classic motorcycle stunt team perform on the upper deck of the closed Alaskan Way Viaduct in downtown Seattle. They were winners of a contest where organizations made pitches about what they would do on the deck of the closed highway for half an hour. The Cossacks performed their signature tricks on the highway. less

Members of the Seattle Cossacks classic motorcycle stunt team perform on the upper deck of the closed Alaskan Way Viaduct in downtown Seattle. They were winners of a contest where organizations made pitches ... more

Members of the Seattle Cossacks classic motorcycle stunt team perform on the upper deck of the closed Alaskan Way Viaduct. The Cossacks performed their signature tricks on the highway for half an hour during the beginning of its nine day closure. less

Members of the Seattle Cossacks classic motorcycle stunt team perform on the upper deck of the closed Alaskan Way Viaduct. The Cossacks performed their signature tricks on the highway for half an hour during ... more

Members of the Rat City Rollergirls skate on the upper deck of the closed Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Members of the Rat City Rollergirls skate on the upper deck of the closed Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Members of the Rat City Rollergirls skate on the upper deck of the... Photo-1691278.31629 - seattlepi.com

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Governor Chris Gregoire speaks during a celebration marking the beginning of demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The ceremony started with a tribute to Wash. state Sen. Scott White, 41, who was an advocate of the waterfront tunnel and was found dead the day before in a hotel room in Kittitas County. less

Governor Chris Gregoire speaks during a celebration marking the beginning of demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The ceremony started with a tribute to Wash. state Sen. Scott White, 41, who was an advocate ... more

Governor Chris Gregoire steps out of a front-end-loader after she dumped rubble from the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Governor Chris Gregoire steps out of a front-end-loader after she dumped rubble from the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Governor Chris Gregoire steps out of a front-end-loader after she... Photo-1691363.31629 - seattlepi.com

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Members of the Rat City Rollergirls flat-track roller derby league skate on the upper deck of the closed Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Members of the Rat City Rollergirls flat-track roller derby league skate on the upper deck of the closed Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Members of the Rat City Rollergirls flat-track roller derby league... Photo-1691340.31629 - seattlepi.com

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Allison Green and Harold Kraus carry away a heavy souvenir of the Alaskan Way Viaduct on Saturday in downtown Seattle. Green said her dad George Green was a chief engineer with Bethlehem Steel and helped build the structure in the 1950s. The highway usually carries 110,000 cars per day and will be closed for 9 days as demolition of the southern half of the aging structure begins. less

Allison Green and Harold Kraus carry away a heavy souvenir of the Alaskan Way Viaduct on Saturday in downtown Seattle. Green said her dad George Green was a chief engineer with Bethlehem Steel and helped build ... more